Why Cyber Security is essential for every business

Phil Battrick explains how Cyber Security is essential for every business

SMEs tend to underestimate the threat posed by cyber attacks – a KPMG and Be Cyber Streetwise survey found that 51% of small businesses “think it’s unlikely or very unlikely that they’d be a target for an attack”, with many feeling that larger corporations will be of more interest. Sadly, hackers prey on the weak and, for cyber criminals, that means SMEs who, with fewer resources in terms of money, time and personnel, make an easier target. The 2015 Information Security Breaches Survey from PwC stated that 74% of small businesses were victims of a security breach, up from 60% in 2014.

For many, the Cyber Essentials security accreditation appears to be just another expense, but it could save your bank balance, brand and reputation. It could also ensure client retention, improve employees’ morale and give you access to new business opportunities.

What is it?

Cyber Essentials is a government-backed cyber security certification scheme. It defines basic cyber security measures that, according to the government, could prevent “around 80% of cyber-attacks”.

It’s a mechanism that organisations of any type and size can use to demonstrate to customers, investors, insurers and others that they have taken essential precautions to secure their information against the majority of cyber risks.

How does it work?

The scheme’s security controls provide a basic level of protection from the vast majority of cyber-attacks so you can focus on your core business objectives. The five controls to strengthen cyber security AND improve business efficiency are:

About Us

At Lister Unified Communications, we’ve built our business on putting our customers first. We believe that by communicating clearly, having the most experienced knowledge base and only selling the highest quality products, we can provide a single source for the entirety of your voice and data requirements.